U.S. patent number 4,191,233 [Application Number 05/959,234] was granted by the patent office on 1980-03-04 for ski covers.
Invention is credited to Gordon McKay.
United States Patent |
4,191,233 |
McKay |
March 4, 1980 |
Ski covers
Abstract
Individual covers are provided for each ski with detachable top
covers so that a limited adjustment for ski length is provided.
Each cover has a web portion substantially centrally located by
which means the two covers can be detachably secured together by
means such as a slide fastener. Alternatively, each web can be
secured by slide fastener to a tote bag depending therebetween.
Straps are provided to detachably secure the ends of the ski covers
together and straps are provided to enable the package to be
carried easily in one hand. A pocket on each cover receives the ski
pole handles. The skis can be carried joined together by the web,
joined to a tote bag or the covers can be separated to enable the
skis to be carried on a conventional car ski rack or the like.
Inventors: |
McKay; Gordon (Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan, CA) |
Family
ID: |
25501808 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/959,234 |
Filed: |
November 9, 1978 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/315.1;
280/814; D3/261 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63C
11/027 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63C
11/00 (20060101); A63C 11/02 (20060101); B65D
081/00 (); A63C 011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;150/52R,3
;280/11.37K,11.37R,11.38 ;224/45S,8R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hall; George T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ade; Stanley G.
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1. A pair of individual flexible and detachable cover assemblies,
one each for each ski of a pair of skis, a web portion extending
from each of said cover assemblies intermediate the ends thereof
and fastening means for detachably securing said web portions
together and hence said ski cover assemblies together.
2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said web portion is
elongated, said fastening means comprising a sliding fastener
assembly, one portion of said sliding fastener assembly being on
one of said web portions, the complementary portion of said sliding
fastener assembly being on the other of said web portion.
3. The invention according to claim 1 which includes tip covers for
said cover assemblies detachably securable to said cover assemblies
for limited length adjustable relationship therewith.
4. The invention according to claim 2 which includes tip covers for
said cover assemblies detachably securable to said cover assemblies
for limited length adjustable relationship therewith.
5. The invention according to claim 1 which includes pocket means
on at least one of said cover assemblies to receive the handles of
the associated ski poles.
6. The invention according to claim 2 which includes pocket means
on at least one of said cover assemblies to receive the handles of
the associated ski poles.
7. The invention according to claim 3 which includes pocket means
on at least one of said cover assemblies to receive the handles of
the associated ski poles.
8. The invention according to claim 4 which includes pocket means
on at least one of said cover assemblies to receive the handles of
the associated ski poles.
9. The invention according to claim 1 together with storage bag
means, means detachably securing said storage bag between said web
portions of said pair of cover assemblies, said last mentioned
means comprising complementary fastening means along each side of
said storage bag means, detachably engageable with the
corresponding fastener means on each of said web portions.
10. The invention according to claim 2 together with storage bag
means, means detachably securing said storage bag between said web
portions of said pair of cover assemblies, said last mentioned
means comprising complementary fastening means along each side of
said storage bag means, detachably engageable with the
corresponding fastener means on each of said web portions.
11. The invention according to claim 3 together with storage bag
means, means detachably securing said storage bag between said web
portions of said pair of cover assemblies, said last mentioned
means comprising complementary fastening means along each side of
said storage bag means, detachably engageable with the
corresponding fastener means on each of said web portions.
12. The invention according to claim 4 together with storage bag
means, means detachably securing said storage bag between said web
portions of said pair of cover assemblies, said last mentioned
means comprising complementary fastening means along each side of
said storage bag means, detachably engageable with the
corresponding fastener means on each of said web portions.
13. The invention according to claim 5 together with storage bag
means, means detachably securing said storage bag between said web
portions of said pair of cover assemblies, said last mentioned
means comprising complementary fastening means along each side of
said storage bag means, detachably engageable with the
corresponding fastener means on each of said web portions.
14. The invention according to claim 6 together with storage bag
means, means detachably securing said storage bag between said web
portions of said pair of cover assemblies, said last mentioned
means comprising complementary fastening means along each side of
said storage bag means, detachably engageable with the
corresponding fastener means on each of said web portions.
15. The invention according to claim 7 together with storage bag
means, means detachably securing said storage bag between said web
portions of said pair of cover assemblies, said last mentioned
means comprising complementary fastening means along each side of
said storage bag means, detachably engageable with the
corresponding fastener means on each of said web portions.
16. The invention according to claim 8 together with storage bag
means, means detachably securing said storage bag between said web
portions of said pair of cover assemblies, said last mentioned
means comprising complementary fastening means along each side of
said storage bag means, detachably engageable with the
corresponding fastener means on each of said web portions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ski
covers.
Many attempts have been made to provide ski covers in which a pair
of covers is joined together and examples of such patents covering
this construction include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,180,686; 2,250,388;
3,245,448; 3,336,961; 3,948,302; 3,851,689.
However, these and other inventions of this nature suffer from one
principal disadvantage. While it is convenient to carry a pair of
skis within a cover assembly which is a one-piece assembly for a
pair of skis, nevertheless these covers are not usable when it is
desired to attach the skis to a conventional ski rack on the back
of an automobile or the like.
The spacing of such ski racks is far too wide to enable the cover
assembly to span the distance between adjacent ski racks and of
course, the racks are such that they will not take a pair of skis
but only one ski in each receptacle of the rack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a
structure which has the advantages of cover assemblies which may be
detachably secured together for convenience of manual
transportation yet at the same time may be separated so that each
ski can be readily secured within the relevant portion of any
conventional ski rack normally found on atuomobiles and the
like.
A further advantage flowing from the detachability of the cover
assemblies is the fact that, if desired, a storage bag may be
suspended between a pair of covers and secured thereto so that
boots or other clothing may readily be carried manually if
desired.
The invention is characterized by the provision of a pair of
individual flexible and detachable cover assemblies, one each for
each ski of a pair of skis, a web portion extending from each of
said cover assemblies intermediate the ends thereof and fastening
means for detachably securing said web portions together and hence
said ski cover assemblies together.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a device of the
character herewithin described which may include a pocket on at
least one of the cover assemblies adapted to receive the handles of
the associated ski poles so that the ski poles can readily be
strapped to the cover assembly so that the entire unit can readily
be carried as a single package.
Another aspect of the invention is to provide a device of the
character herewithin described which is simple in construction,
economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose
for which it is designed.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become
apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention
relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists
essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as
hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pair of cover assemblies secured
together and turned back to back for ease of carrying.
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the cover
assemblies lying side by side.
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a tote bag between
the adjacent cover assemblies.
FIG. 4 is a view substantially at right angles to FIG. 3.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show a pair of cover assemblies separated from one
another with the slide fasteners being shown in the open position
and a storage bag detachably secured within one of the cover
assemblies.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference
character 10 illustrates one ski bag or cover assembly which is
manufactured from any desired material and is provided with a
closed lower end 11 and an elongated fastener assembly such as a
slide fastener 12, extending from the closed end 11 or the other or
open end 13. When this slide fastener is opened, a conventional ski
(not illustrated) is readily inserted within the cover assembly
which may then be closed by means of the sliding assembly 12
leaving the tip of the ski exposed. This tip area is covered with a
removable tip cover 14 which slips over the tip of the ski and is
detachably secured to the main body of the cover assembly 10 by any
convenient means such as a friction fastener known by the trade
mark VELCRO and indicated by reference character 15. This gives a
certain flexibility in the length of the cover assembly so that it
can readily be adapted for use with skis of different lengths,
within limits.
There are two such cover assemblies 10 for a set, one each for each
ski of a pair of skis and intermediate the ends of one side of the
cover assembly, I have provided an elongated web or strip 16
together with one element of a slide fastener assembly collectively
designated 17, it being understood that the complementary element
of the slide fastener assembly is secured to the web 16A of the
other cover assembly. This enables the two portions of the slide
fastener assembly to be engaged together thus securing the two
cover assemblies together intermediate the ends thereof and along a
length defined by the length of the slide fastener assembly 17. The
two cover assemblies so secured together, is illustrated in FIG. 2
and once secured together, the flexible web material together with
the material of the cover assemblies, enables the two skis to be
turned at right angles to one another so that the cover assemblies
take up the position illustrated in FIG. 1.
Flexible strap means 18 are provided adjacent each end of the cover
assemblies, on one of the cover assemblies which may be wrapped
around the two cover assemblies together with the skis enclosed
thereby, to secure the package together for easy manipulation.
Further flexible strap loops 19 are secured to the cover assemblies
substantially in the location of the webs 16 and 16A and may be
used as carrying handles, shoulder straps or the like, conventional
length adjustment means 20 being provided to the strap loops.
It will also be noted that a relatively small pocket 21 is provided
on at least one of the cover assemblies rearwardly of the web 16A,
said pockets being adapted to receive the handle ends of associated
ski poles (not illustrated) with the ski poles lying substantially
parallel to the cover assemblies and being secured thereto by means
of one of the straps 18 as it is wrapped around the cover
assemblies. This enables the entire package to be carried by one
hand readily and easily, if desired.
Alternatively, it will be appreciated that by detaching the two
cover assemblies, the skis contained therein together with the
cover assembly is readily attachable to a conventional ski rack
whether it be a side to side rack, bottom to bottom rack or a rack
in which the components are completely separated.
FIGS. 3 and 4 show a further embodiment of the device in which a
flexible storage bag 22 is provided with complementary slide
fastener grips 23, adjacent each side of the upper side or panel 24
thereof. Each of these slide fastener components is detachably
engage by the corresponding slide fastener component on the webs 16
and 16A thus securing the pair of cover assemblies, one upon each
side of the storage bag 22 as clearly shown in FIG. 3. A carrying
handle 25 may be provided on the upper panel 24 as illustrated or
alternatively, the shoulder strap loops 19 may be used for carrying
purposes. This enables the skis, the ski poles and any associated
equipment such as wax or the like, to be carried as a single
package and in one hand.
FIGS. 5 and 6 show additional details of the individual cover
assemblies 10 including reinforcing material at the tips of the tip
covers 14, illustrated by reference character 26, similar
reinforcing material 26A at the lower or closed ends of the cover
assemblies, it being understood that the necessary reinforcing
material or strip 27 may be provided along the slide fastener
assembly 12 on each side of the cover assembly. A relatively small,
separate, flexible bag 28 may be secured as by the aforementioned
VELCRO or the like, within the cover assemblies which can be
detached so that the cover assemblies can be folded compactly and
stored within this bag when the cover assemblies are removed from
the skis.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as
hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different
embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims
without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that
all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
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